This site is a sort of museum in cyberspace full of odds and ends about life in Budleigh Salterton.
It celebrates among other things the connection between our corner of East Devon - birthplace of both Sir Walter Raleigh and Roger Conant, founder of Salem, Massachusetts - and the United States of America.
The site was inspired by the friendship link established in 2001 with the Cape Cod community of Brewster.

Friday, 27 June 2014

Members of the Exmouth & District U3A History Group combined a visit to Fairlynch on Thursday 5 June with a walking tour of Budleigh. Led by Museum Secretary Michael Downes and Chairman Roger Sherriff, the group enjoyed their exploration of the town in brilliant sunshine before a coffee break, followed by a trip round the Museum.

Research on Budleigh Salterton's 19th century sponge expert by Fairlynch volunteer Michael Downes has helped curators prepare an exhibition at London's Natural History Museum.

Above: The feature on Henry Carter FRS in the Natural History Museum's display 'Untold Human Stories from the NHM Porifera Collection.'

Budleigh Salterton’s only native-born Fellow of the
Royal Society Henry Carter was the main subject of the 2013 Fairlynch
exhibition ‘Sea, Salt and Sponges.’

The exhibition was accompanied by a booklet ‘The Scientist in The Cottage’, written by Fairlynch Museum Secretary Michael Downes. It was praised by the NHM’s Emma Sherlock, Curator in the Invertebrate Section of the Zoology Department at the Museum, and is the first-ever published biography of the Budleigh-born surgeon, geologist and spongologist.

Emma explained that the booklet had helped in a project that she and her
NHM colleagues were working on with regard to Henry Carter and fellow
spongologistJames Scott Bowerbank. “My volunteer ended up ordering one
too as we enjoyed it so much,” she wrote.

Copies of ‘The Scientist in The Cottage’ are on sale at Fairlynch Museum.

Yes, Fairlynch Museum garden is one of the 16 Budleigh gardens open for Hospicecare this weekend, Saturday and Sunday 28-29 June. Don't worry about the rain. All the gardens are desperate for it. Raindrops on roses make brilliant photos.

Monday, 16 June 2014

Friday, 13 June 2014

Happy museum visitors Kerry Mayers and son Charlie give the thumbs-up to Fairlynch

Whether
writing online or in the visitors’ book, people continue to lavish praise on
Budleigh Salterton’s museum as the season enters its third month.

The
building, the volunteer staff and the exhibitions have all played their part in
making a call at Fairlynch one of the enjoyable highlights of a visit to the
town.

“This is a lovely place for local
history - beautiful building and packed with interest,” wrote Beatrice H. from Exeter on Tripadvisor. “The
volunteers were welcoming - admittedly I am a history graduate but my 16-year-old
daughter found plenty to interest her too. Nice little shop - we will be back! thank you.”

Alison Hilton and her
family were also attracted by the building. “So pleased we popped in on Sunday
- who could resist such a beautiful house?!” she wrote on our Facebook page.
“We didn't have much time but the displays were really interesting and we were
made to feel very welcome! Thank you!”

Similar compliments
were echoed by people from further afield. “A wonderful place. Thank you
Budleigh Salterton,”wrote the Curtis
family from Australia
in the visitors’ book.

Museums are
increasingly expected to cater for all ages, and Fairlynch is certainly playing
its part. “Great for all the family - Thank you!” wrote the Roberts family from
Manningtree in Essex. A Nottingham
resident was pleased with the way that the quiz kept children involved with the
exhibitions.

The Local
History section was singled out for praise by a visitor from Cheam who was
researching a family tree, while the Museum’s ‘Great War at Fairlynch’
exhibition was a hit with Kate Benson from Chorleywood, Hertfordshire. “Wonderful display on WW1, informative, bright and
relevant to Budleigh Salterton - Well done!!!” was her comment.

It looks as
though whatever the weather can throw at us, Fairlynch
Museum will ensure that visitors to
Budleigh enjoy their stay in East Devon.

Sixteen
gardens in Budleigh Salterton will be open on 28 and 29 June 2014, helping
raise money for Hospiscare. The gardens will all be open from 11.00 am to
4.00 pm each day. At only £5.00 per adult for entry into all 16 gardens that
should be a beautiful experience!

The gardens include that of Cramalt Lodge on Cricketfield Lane,
home to Fairlynch Museum President Joy Gawne. It boasts a rose garden and a
medlar tree among its charms.

A photographic record of the evolution of Cramalt
Lodge garden will be on display, along with an exhibition of bygones of
yesteryear such as old toasting-forks and waffle irons.

It’s a tiny gland no bigger than a pea, but for its size it’s one of the most important areas in the body. The chemical messengers or hormones that it controls play a vital role in our health, affecting functions as varied as growth, mood and reproduction.

Pituitary disorders are rare but serious. When Richard Greetham, a director of Bradleys Estate Agents was diagnosed with a pituitary tumour his colleagues at the firm’s Budleigh office were naturally shocked and upset. His good friend Robin Burne, pictured above, is a familiar face to many involved in our local property scene. Robin is determined to do his bit and help Richard and his family in any way he can.

“Many people have not heard of this devastating condition, let alone the impact it can have,” says Robin. “To show my support for Richard I ran in Plymouth's Half Marathon on 27 April with other colleagues. In June I am going to accompany Richard on Days 1 and 2 of his 'Tour De Bradleys' , when he is cycling to all our 33 offices.”

The first day of the Charity Bike Ride opens with the stage from Taunton to the Bradleys Head Office in Exmouth on 21 June. The following day will see a ride from Exmouth to Okehampton. Richard himself is aiming to complete over 400 miles during the entire ride, which he admits will be a tough challenge.

“I took up cycling a year ago with a view to training for this, and I have been training for a year, but sadly no amount of training can prepare you for some of the climbs and hills that Devon, Cornwall and Somerset can throw at you,” he explained.

“A year ago I was diagnosed with a pituitary tumour, which came as rather a shock, having had a five year period of feeling generally unwell, and struggling really to find out the cause of these feelings. Once the diagnosis had been made, the transition from feeling generally very unwell to complete recovery and feeling normal again was such a relief. I really felt that I had to do something for this unknown condition. The Pituitary Foundation is mainly an information and promotional charity that helps people with pituitary conditions. Its main aim is to raise awareness of the many conditions that are linked to the pituitary gland, which sits just beneath your brain. They are a small charity but do a fantastic job and really need the support and help, so that they are able to help people who have been undiagnosed like I was for many years, and raise awareness of some of the conditions that are linked.”

Bradleys Estate Agents has chosen The Pituitary Foundation as its official charity during 2014, and further challenges for Robin lie ahead with September’s Half Marathon in Bristol and the Exeter Great West Run in October.

Pituitary tumours can be cured, and so far Richard has responded well to treatment. “We hope that as a company we can raise much needed funds as well as vital awareness of this condition,” says Robin.

Bradleys is a Corporate Friend of Fairlynch and Chairman Roger Sherriff invites all those associated with the Museum to join Robin in helping to support this worthy cause.

About Me

Born in 1946, in Birmingham UK, of Scottish-Irish parentage, and brought up as a Roman Catholic. Early education may have driven me into teaching, in the belief that schools should offer a more enjoyable experience for children. Studied French at London University, specialising in 16th century literature. Then came 34 years of teaching French, along with red herrings and common sense, at Oundle School, Northamptonshire. Published articles in Etudes Rabelaisiennes, (a long time ago), and a couple of books - one big 'Oundle's War' (1995) - and one small 'The Scientist in The Cottage' (2013) - a biography of Henry Carter FRS (1813-95). Dabbles, and some people say meddles, in many areas. A passionate gardener, moved to Devon partly to grow ericaceous plants more easily. Other interests include family, cycling, walking, photography, reading, music, studying butterflies, chopping wood, DIY, playing on the scaffold tower, and networking for the Greater Good. Married to Anthea for over 40 years. Three children: Emily, Simeon and Rosanna, three granddaughters and two Bengal cats. Like an increasing number of my friends of my generation, I'm a cancer survivor – I hope!